Looke whan that he is set, that right anoon Arys as though thou woldest with hym pleye, And I shal ryve hym thurgh the sydes tweye Whil that thou strogelest with hym as in game, And with thy daggere looke thou do the same; And thanne shal al this gold departed be, My deere freend, bitwixen me and thee.

Looke whan that he is set, that right anoon
Arys as though thou woldest with hym pleye,
And I shal ryve hym thurgh the sydes tweye
Whil that thou strogelest with hym as in game,
And with thy daggere looke thou do the same;
And thanne shal al this gold departed be,
My deere freend, bitwixen me and thee.
Thanne may we bothe oure lustes all fulfille,
And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Pardoner’s Tale. Greed is the dominant theme in the Pardoner’s Tale. After the youngest rioter has left to fetch bread and wine, one of the two remaining persuades his companion and "dear friend" that they should stab to death the youngest on his return. Then they would only have to share the gold they found two ways, and not three. So they can fulfil all their bodily desires and gamble away to their heart’s content. Ironically the two rioters are unaware that the youngest is also planning to kill them with poison and keep the gold for himself.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes